A REGISTERED sex offender living in Crewkerne has appeared in court charged with six counts of breaching a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) including registering himself for an online game under the alias of “mrpinotnoir”.

Michael Grimes, 62, of The Barley Yard, appeared before Somerset Magistrates, sitting at Yeovil, facing the allegations said to have been committed last year.

He admitted on November 28, 2016 at Crewkerne he used “incognito” mode whilst browsing the internet, preventing his browsing history being examined by the police. He was prohibited from doing so by a SOPO made by Portsmouth Crown Court on December 12, 2014.

He also admitted failing to make available an external hard drive and USB sticks for examination by the police when required on the same date.

The defendant also admitted between September 18 and November 28 last year he failed to comply with the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 by failing to register a new passport at a police station within three days of receiving it.

However, he denied two further breaches of his notification requirements by failing to register a Cahoot credit card with the police within three days of receiving it and also failed to register with the police an alias name of “mrpinotnoir”.

Prosecutor Emma Lenanton said Grimes was made the subject of a SOPO following a conviction for possessing indecent images of children made on December 12, 2014 at Portsmouth Crown Court.

Defence solicitor Joseph Wright said the credit card was issued before the SOPO was imposed on Grimes and he had used the alias to take part in an online Warcraft game.

A review of the case was carried out and all matters were adjourned until March 24 when a trial will take place. Grimes over the denied offences.Until then the defendant was released on unconditional bail.